VICTORIA – The Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) is adding
5,000 annual service hours to the Victoria Regional Transit system effective
September 3, 2013. The increased service hours come with two more buses being
added to the Victoria Regional System fleet.
BC Transit customers will benefit with extra service hours dedicated to more
overload buses on busy routes at peak hours. The practice of flexible, overload
buses was introduced last September and proved to be successful at reducing
wait times for customers and allowing buses to cut into routes where demand
warranted it.
“We are pleased to expand service hours and add buses,” said VRTC
Chair Susan Brice. “The Victoria Regional System is growing and maturing
and the Commission is committed to giving BC Transit the resources it needs
to match service with demand.”
“More hours and more buses give BC Transit operations in Victoria greater
flexibility to address high demand during peak times,” said BC Transit
President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “We are working hard to make the best
possible use of resources to serve our customers and taxpayers who fund this
vital service.”
Other improvements include better connections to Dockyard, Shoal Centre and
Royal Roads University. Plus McKenzie-bound buses enroute to the University
of Victoria will travel directly to the Finnerty exchange instead of around
Ring Road, delivering an extra 69 trips per week to the university without adding
resources or budgets.
Residents of Triangle Mountain will benefit from a revised schedule and the
introduction Route #60 Wishart. The new route will complement the existing
Route #59 Triangle Mountain with bidirectional service.
Also effective September 3, 2013 handyDART will see an annual increase of 2,250
service hours and an extra vehicle to better meet peak demand.
For more information on routes and schedules please consult www.bctransit.com/regions/vic
or call 250.382.6161.
Media Contact:
Meribeth Burton
Corporate Spokesperson | BC Transit
d: 250.995.5720
c: 250.507.8145
meribeth_burton@bctransit.com
